“You’re good for Johnny.”
I sit down next to her, and say, “We’ve never spent this much time together.”
She laughs. “It’ll be fine. You’ll see. You just need to get to know these new sides you’re both seeing for the first time.” We both take another swig from the flask. “Johnny was Cory’s best friend, but he also considered him the brother he never had.”
“That’s one of the last things he called him before he left Paris.” Her smile turns as her eyes fill with tears. I hug her. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m pissed he left me.” She looks up, the anger replaced by a broken heart. “We never fought. He was too good, his soul was compassionate. He loved me through and through, and I knew no one else would ever love me like that. He took me, rough edges and all, and smoothed me out. He was the better one of the two of us. How am I going to raise those boys to be like their father when he’s not here?”
We finally let our tears fall freely and with my arm wrapped around her shoulder, I whisper, “You show them the love that you and Cory shared and do your best. You’re a wonderful mother, Rochelle. Cory’s death doesn’t change that.”
Sitting up, she nods as she takes a deep breath. “The site investigators found a ring,” she says. “They said they traced it back to Cory. He bought it at a shop in Paris.”
My heart stops along with my breathing.
She continues, “Do you think Johnny knows anything? I think Cory would have told him about it.”
About to break down, I quickly excuse myself. “I’ll get him for you.”
I rush inside and grab Dalton by the arm, dragging him to a guest room down a long hallway. After shutting the door, I sit down on the bed. His warmth comforts me as he sits down and pulls me to his side. “I’m sorry,” I start to say, “I know he was your friend and—”
“It’s okay. Today is hard on everyone.”
Snuggled into his side, I say, “They found the ring, Dalton. My heart is breaking for her. I couldn’t look at her knowing the truth. You need to tell her. She should know.”
He holds me, stroking my hair, his inner strength shining through. “I’ll talk to her.”
“Sure I’ve gotten into some trouble, a few bar fights. I have an ego bigger than Texas and a jealous streak to match.” ~Johnny Outlaw
The convention looms and Tracy isn’t letting me get out of it. I have to be there. I have too many people counting on me being there today. I leave Dalton in bed at his house, which we retreated back to this week, and tiptoe downstairs. The front door is about to close when I hear Dalton. “Holliday?”
I step back inside and look up at the top of the stairs. He’s been holed up for days, so seeing him out of his room surprises me, especially at this early hour. “Hi. You’re up?”
He uses his palms to rub his eyes and the sleep away. In the low light coming from the bedroom I’m reminded how handsome he is, even with the sadness that haunts him. “Where are you going?”
“I have the convention today. I reminded you last night.”
“I guess I forgot.”
“I need to get going or I’ll be late.”
I feel his gaze harden. His voice becomes stern as if I have to justify myself. “It’s four in the morning.”
“I have to go back to my place to get dressed first and pick up some stuff. I’m meeting Tracy there at seven to set-up.”
He sits down on the top step, his body looking too tired to stand. Rolling his shoulders forward, I can see his mood changing for the worse. “How long will you be gone?” First his body language, now his tone. He’s losing patience.
“All day.”
“When will you be back?”
“I don’t know. Late.”
“I need you here,” he says, leaning his head against the wall for support.
“Dalton—”
He stands and rushes down the stairs, grabbing me by the arms. “I don’t just need you here. I want you here. I want you with me.” He pulls me to him, holding me tight. “Don’t leave me.”
“I don’t want to leave you. I want to stay.” I whisper, rubbing his back. “But I have to go. Today’s important for me and the company. I have meetings I can’t cancel last minute.”
Cupping my face, he looks into my eyes. His are glassy, desperate. “You don’t have to work. You know that. I need you here. I can take care of you.”
“I love my job. I do it because it makes me happy.”
“Don’t I make you happy?” I feel the slight shake of his hands. “I almost died. It should have been me, not Cory.”